Service Bulletin 08-001

February 5, 2009Applies To: 2006–07 Civic 2-Door – ALL Except Si and Honda Accessory HFP Package

2006–07 Civic 4-Door – ALL Except Si2006–07 Civic Hybrid – ALL2008 Civic Hybrid – From VIN JHMFA3...8S000001 thru JHMFA3...8S010456

Uneven or Rapid Rear Tire Wear(Supersedes 08-001, dated April 11, 2008, to revise the information marked by the black bars)

REVISION SUMMARY

Under PARTS INFORMATION, the control arm kit has been updated to include the flange bolts, and the part number and Honda code have changed.

NOTE: To ensure a proper repair and proper reimbursement, you must read this entire service bulletin before doing any work.

SYMPTOM

The customer may complain of uneven or rapid rear tire wear, a roaring noise from the rear, or a vibration at highway speeds.

PROBABLE CAUSE

The combination of the tires and the rear suspension geometry may cause rapid and uneven rear tire wear. Tires in an advanced stage of this diagonal or inner edge wear may cause vibration and/or a bad bearing type noise. (For more details, see TIRE INSPECTION AND QUALIFICATION on page 2).

CORRECTIVE ACTION

Install a rear upper control arm kit, replace the flange bolts and the worn tires (see the Tire Replacement Information chart on page 2), and do a four-wheel alignment to the new specification listed in REPAIR PROCEDURE.

PARTS INFORMATION

Rear Upper Control Arm Kit: P/N 04523-SNA-A01, H/C 9113184

(Contains control arms and six flange bolts.)

Tire Warranty Information

You must use the same brand and size tire as OEM equipped. Replacement tires must be from The Tire Rack.

For replacement tires, call the American Honda Tire Program through The Tire Rack at 877-327-8473.

Tire Application Chart

OEM Tire, P/N, and H/C Tire Size Model

Dunlop SP5000P/N 42751-DUN-038

H/C 8285082

P195/65R15 2-Door DX, 4-Door DX,

GX

Bridgestone Turanza EL400

P/N 42751-BRI-089H/C 8251878

P205/55R16 2-Door LX, EX,4-Door LX, EX

Goodyear Eagle RSA P/N 42751-GYR-036

H/C 8270498

P205/55R16 2-Door LX, EX, 4-Door LX, EX

Dunlop SP31P/N 42751-DUN-039

H/C 8285090

P195/65R15 Hybrid

Bridgestone Insignia SE200

P/N 42751-BRI-090H/C 8285108

P195/65R15 Hybrid

© 2009 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. – All Rights Reserved ATB 37868-40190 (0902) 1 of 5

CUSTOMER INFORMATION: The information in this bulletin is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment,and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These procedures should not be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assumethis bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To determine whether this information applies, contact anauthorized Honda automobile dealer.

Tire Replacement Information

Typical Claim:American Honda will pay a prorated amount, as shown in the chart below, for replacement of tires due to uneven or rapid rear tire wear, based on the tire’s mileage.

NOTE: You must calculate how much to charge the customer and how much to charge the warranty claim. Customer receipts used for calculation of the mileage must be retained with the repair order. Get the customer’s permission before proceeding with this repair.

Customer Reimbursements:Customers who had tires previously replaced due to wear, and whose vehicle is eligible for rear upper control arm replacement (see DIAGNOSIS on page 4), may be eligible for reimbursement of a prorated portion of their expense. Use the mileage on the customer’s original tire replacement receipt to calculate the prorated amount, and retain a copy of the receipt with the repair order. To submit a warranty claim for customer reimbursement, follow the procedure in section 3.9 of the Service Operations Manual “Reimbursement For Emergency Repairs.”

To qualify for tire replacement:• The tires must have been properly maintained

(correct inflation and balancing).

• Tires must not show signs of abuse (such as from racing or other physical damage). Abused tires are not covered by this service bulletin.

• Tires must show signs of diagonal or inner edge wear. They must also fall within the abnormal wear range, based on tread depth measured and mileage shown, on the Tire Replacement Information chart on this page.

TIRE INSPECTION AND QUALIFICATION

Diagonal Wear LinesThe tire is no longer round. There are high and low spots on the tire, worn in a diagonal pattern across the tread.

Abnormal Wear (% Covered by Honda)Normal Wear (No Coverage by Honda)

Miles 0/32" 100% 100% 100% 75%

75% 75%

75% 75% 75% 75% 50% 50% 50% 50%

50% 50%

50% 50% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

50% 50% 50% 50% 25% 25%

25% 25%

25% 25%

25% 25%

25%

75% 75%

100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

1/32" 2/32" 3/32" 4/32" 5/32"

6/32" or more

0-3,500 3,501-6,500 6,501-9,500 9,501-12,500 12,501-15,500 15,501-18,750 18,751-21,750 21,751-25,000 over 25,000

Tread Depth

The tread is worn diagonally across the tire.

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Inner Edge Tread WearThe tread on the inner edge of the tire is worn more than the tread on the outer edge.

WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION

In warranty: The normal warranty applies.

Failed Part: P/N 04523-SNA-A00H/C 8820698

Defect Code: 00504

Symptom Code: 04217

Skill Level: Repair Technician

Out of warranty: Any repair performed after warranty expiration may be eligible for goodwill consideration by the District Parts and Service Manager or your Zone Office. You must request consideration, and get a decision, before starting work.

To claim the installation of replacement tires, do this:• List the prorated amount of the tire (the invoice price

multiplied by the covered percentage) in the first sublet field on the warranty claim form. Use sublet code T3 (sublet tire purchase).

• You are eligible for a reimbursement of $20 per tire for handling. This $20 handling fee should cover any state-required recycling fees plus an additional profit margin. List this dollar amount in the second sublet field on the warranty claim form. Use sublet code T4 (sublet tire purchase handling reimbursement).

NOTE: Claims made for tire replacement require three photographs of the tires, all attached to the repair order. If these photos are not available upon request, or if they fail to meet the guidelines in this service bulletin, the dealer will be debited the full claim amount.

Photo #1Arrange the tires together, and take a photo showing the tread wear of all replaced tires and the VIN, as shown in the example below. (If only two tires are replaced, photograph only those two tires.)

INNEROUTER

INNEROUTEROP# Description FRT

4191B6 Install rear upper control arm kit. 0.5

421112 Mount, balance, and install two tires. 0.8

421114 Mount, balance, and install four tires. 1.6

4191B6B Do a four-wheel alignment. 1.2

2HGFA1XXX6H000001

FRONTLEFT

FRONTRIGHT

REARLEFT

REARRIGHT

08-001 3 of 5

Photo #2

Set the camera to macro mode (close-up), and select the tire with the most tread wear. Measure the tread depth of the tire at one of the grooves closest to the middle of the tire, and take a photo of the gauge in the tire clearly showing the remaining tread depth. If the inner edge of the tire is bald or flat-spotted, yet the tread in the center of the tire is good, make sure the photo clearly shows that the tire is past its useable life.

Photo #3

Select the tire with the most tread wear, and take a photo of the tread surface showing the tread wear bars.

DIAGNOSIS

1. Make sure the vehicle’s suspension is not modified, and that it has the correct tires and wheels (or genuine Honda accessory wheels, tires, and suspension). (For correct tire sizes, see the Tire Application Chart on page 1.)

Are the tires, wheels and suspension the correct type?

Yes - Go to step 2.

No - Disregard this service bulletin, and continue with normal troubleshooting (accident damage, driving habits, alignment, tire pressures, etc.).

2. Inspect the rear upper control arms.

Do the arms have the letter “C” painted or stamped on them?

Yes - This vehicle already has the revised rear upper control arms. Disregard this service bulletin, and continue with normal troubleshooting (accident damage, driving habits, alignment, tire pressures, etc.).

No - Go to step 3.

MIDDLE OF THE TIRE

WEAR BARS

INNEROUTER

THE LETTER “C”

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3. Inspect the tires.Do the tires show diagonal or inner edge wear?Yes - Go to REPAIR PROCEDURE.No - The wear is not camber related. Disregard this service bulletin, and continue with normal troubleshooting (accident damage, driving habits, alignment, tire pressures, etc.).

REPAIR PROCEDURE

1. Install a rear upper control arm kit:• All Civic (except Hybrid): Refer to page 18-39 of

the 2006–2008 Civic Service Manual, or

• Civic Hybrid: Refer to page 18-33 of the 2006–2008 Civic Hybrid Service Manual, or

• Online, enter keyword UPPER, then select Rear Upper Arm Removal/Installation from the list.

NOTE: This procedure is not complete unless you replace the flange bolts.

2. Measure and record the tread depth of the tires on the repair order using a tread depth gauge. Tread depth is measured at one of the grooves closest to the middle of the tire, from the top of the tread blocks to the bottom of the groove (not to the wear bars). If the inner edge of the tire is heavily flat-spotted or bald, use a value of 2/32” instead of the actual tread depth to determine the prorated amount on the Tire Replacement Information chart on page 2. (See the photos under WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION).

• If three or four tires have abnormal wear, mount, balance, and install four new tires.

• If one or two tires have abnormal wear, mount, balance, and install two new tires onto the rear of the vehicle.

3. Set the tire pressures to the specifications on the driver’s doorjamb (B-pillar) label.

4. Do a four-wheel alignment using the new rear camber specification listed below:

Rear camber specification range:

- 1.5° to 0° (- 1° 30’ to 0°)

Front toe: 0 mm (+2mm/-2mm)

Rear toe: 2 mm (+2mm/-1mm)

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